OXEN. 
i 97 
presented by his condition at this time to that during the summer must be seen to 
be fully appreciated. The height attained by the bull bison has been already 
mentioned. In regard to weight, Mr. Hornaday states that an adult bull shot by his 
party scaled 1727 lbs., but as the animal was by no means fat it is probable that 
this weight is in some cases exceeded. 
It was during the breeding-season that the small bands which had been 
previously distributed over a wide area of country collected in the huge herds 
above alluded to; and at such seasons the bulls were occupied either in chasing 
the cows or in combats among themselves. The concerted roaring of the 
bulls at these times is described as resembling thunder, and audible at distances 
of from one to three miles, or even, exceptionally, at five miles. At the conclusion 
of the breeding-season the herd again broke up into small bands. In these 
periodical journeys across the country in search of water regular tracks were 
formed by the bison, and as the water was approached several tracks united, 
with the result that in some places tracks of about twelve inches in width, and 
from six to seven in depth, may be seen following the level of the valleys; the bison 
in these journeys having always marched in single file. These old bison-tracks still 
remain as a memento of a vanished race, and are now used by the domestic cattle 
which have supplanted the monarchs of the prairie. After reaching the watering- 
place, the herd, instead of returning to its original feeding-ground, would wander 
right and left in search of fresh pastures. When undisturbed in good pasture, 
bison were always in the habit of lying down for a few hours during the middle 
of the day; and they were at certain seasons fond of rolling either in dust or mud. 
In districts where salt lakes occurred, the bison would resort to them in great 
numbers. All the great herds were in the habit of moving southwards for a 
distance of from two hundred to four hundred miles with the approach of winter; 
and during such journeys it frequently happened that numbers were lost in crossing 
quicksands, alkali-bogs, muddy fords, or on treacherous ice. It is stated that in 
1867 upwards of two thousand bison out of a herd of four thousand were lost 
in a quicksand; and that an entire herd of about one hundred head perished 
when crossing the ice on a lake in Minnesota. 
Bison would boldly face the cutting blizzards of the north-west, instead of 
turning tail to them after the manner of domestic cattle; although they would at 
the same time seek such shelter as might be obtainable by retiring to the ravines 
and valleys. In heavy falls of snow, which lay long on the ground, the bison were 
often compelled to fast for days, or even weeks, together; but they suffered most 
when the surface of the snow was covered with a thin crust of ice after a slight 
thaw, as their ponderous weight would drive their feet deep into the snow, and 
leave them at the mercy of the Indians, by whom they were slain by hundreds 
when thus helpless. 
Space does not admit of anything more than bare mention of a 
few of the modes in which the bison was hunted. The method of 
stalking, or “ still-hunting,” where the hunter creeps up to a herd and shoots one 
after another of its members, appears to be one of the most deadly, owing to the 
crass stupidity of the animals themselves. The plan adopted was first to shoot the 
leader, when the remainder of the herd would come and stupidly smell round the 
